Shelter finder
Which shelter suits you?
Tap where you are, what the weather is like, what you carry and how much time is left. The finder shows which shelter fits right now – with build time, effort and the single most important safety point.
Ratings are deliberately cautious and come from our entries. How to build it is always in the linked entry. In danger: call 112.
The spot first
First the spot, then the roof
The best shelter is useless in the wrong place. Check these points before you start – it only takes a few minutes.
No dead trees, leaning trunks or hanging branches above you. They fall without warning – especially in wind, wet or snow.
Never in dry streambeds, gullies, hollows or right on the bank. Rain far up the valley can fill them fast.
Slightly raised and level, but out of the wind. The closed or low side faces the wind.
The ground draws heat away all night. A pad, dry leaves or your backpack belong underneath you – as important as a roof.
Never a stove, grill, candle or embers in a tent, tarp or snow cave – you can't smell carbon monoxide. Keep a vent open.
Start early
Choose the spot in daylight. In the dark, overhead hazards and watercourses are easily missed.
Which shelter suits you?
Where are you?
What's the weather like?
What do you carry?
Who is with you?
How long until dark?
How long will you stay?
Your matching shelters
Checked the spot yet?Tap above where you are.
Then you'll see which shelter fits – the best one first.
Everything at a glance
All shelters compared
Tap a column heading to sort. Build time and difficulty come straight from each entry.
| Sitting bivouac with backpack and rain gear | MinutesA few minutes | Beginner | low | basic | with effort | good | with effort | hardly | good | Nature only |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency bivouac with blanket, bivvy bag or bin bag | MinutesA few minutes; gathering ground insulation takes longer | Beginner | low | basic | good | with effort | with effort | hardly | good | Emergency blanket, bivy or group shelter bag |
| Group shelter bag and huddling | MinutesUnder a minute to a few minutes | Beginner | low | basic | good | good | good | hardly | good | Emergency blanket, bivy or group shelter bag |
| Pitching a tent | Up to 45 minAbout 10–20 minutes depending on the tent | Beginner | low | strong | good | with effort | with effort | with effort | good | Tent |
| Natural shelters | Up to 45 minChecking and setting up: about 15–30 minutes | Basic | low | good | good | with effort | with effort | good | with effort | Nature only |
| Tarp A-frame | Up to 45 min15–30 minutes, less with practice | Basic | low | good | good | with effort | with effort | with effort | with effort | Tarp / sheet |
| Tarp diamond / plow point (one corner raised) | Up to 45 minAbout 10–20 minutes with practice | Basic | low | good | good | good | with effort | with effort | hardly | Tarp / sheet |
| Tarp Adirondack (lean-to with side walls) | Up to 45 minAbout 20 minutes | Basic | low | good | good | with effort | with effort | with effort | good | Tarp / sheet |
| Tarp C-fly (lean-to with built-in groundsheet) | Up to 45 minAbout 15–25 minutes | Basic | low | good | good | with effort | with effort | with effort | with effort | Tarp / sheet |
| Hammock with tarp | Up to 45 minAbout 15–20 minutes | Basic | low | good | good | with effort | with effort | good | with effort | Tarp / sheet |
| Protection from heat and sun | Up to 45 min15–45 minutes for a sunshade; best before the midday heat | Basic | low | good | with effort | with effort | hardly | good | good | Tarp / sheet / Emergency blanket, bivy or group shelter bag |
| Tarp lean-to | Up to 45 min10–20 minutes | Beginner | low | basic | with effort | with effort | with effort | good | good | Tarp / sheet |
| Tarp tent with a closed end | Up to 45 minAbout 20–30 minutes with practice | Intermediate | low | good | good | good | with effort | hardly | hardly | Tarp / sheet |
| Tarp as an open roof (flat fly / group fly) | Up to 45 minAbout 15–30 minutes | Basic | low | basic | good | hardly | hardly | good | good | Tarp / sheet |
| Pitching a tent on snow | About 1 hourAbout 30–60 minutes including the platform | Intermediate | medium | strong | with effort | with effort | good | hardly | good | Tent |
| Covered snow trench | About 1 hourWith a shovel usually up to about an hour; depends on snow and practice | Intermediate | medium | strong | hardly | good | good | hardly | good | Tarp / sheet |
| Debris hut from natural materials | HoursSeveral hours, depending on available material and experience | Intermediate | high | strong | with effort | good | good | hardly | hardly | Nature only |
| Cone frame (tipi / wickiup style) | HoursOne to several hours | Intermediate | medium | good | with effort | good | with effort | with effort | with effort | Cord |
| Quinzhee (hollowed snow mound) | HoursSeveral hours including waiting time for settling | Experienced | high | strong | hardly | good | good | hardly | good | Nature only |
| Snow cave in a drift | HoursSeveral hours | Experienced | high | strong | hardly | good | good | hardly | good | Nature only |
| A-frame shelter from natural materials | HoursSeveral hours | Intermediate | high | good | with effort | good | with effort | with effort | hardly | Nature only |
| Natural lean-to with fire reflector | HoursSeveral hours plus firewood for the night | Experienced | high | good | with effort | with effort | good | hardly | good | Nature only |
| Planning a long-term camp | Days+1–3 days of scouting and setting up, then ongoing | Basic | medium | strong | good | good | good | good | good | Nature only |
| Dugout | Days+Several days of work, at least two people | Intermediate | high | strong | with effort | good | good | good | good | Nature only |
| Building a simple log cabin from round logs | Days+Weeks to months, several people | Intermediate | high | strong | good | good | good | good | good | Knife / saw |
